I have a 12 year old 2nd Chantz chute for my Z-Max (always hangared) that lost the charge in the air bottle about a year ago.  I believe the o-rings finally dried out here in the Mojave desert.  Now that I'm actually getting ready to fly I'd like to get it recharged.  Does anyone know the procedure for getting this unit overhauled?  Unfortunately the bottle does not just come out, the valve is somehow sewn into the fabric of the outer pouch.

I don't know how to answer your question since the company that made them is long gone and so is the late Jim Handbury (maker of the system).  I would suggest cutting out the valve, find subsitute O-rings and sew it back in.  I belive the cylinder can be recharged with a regular air compressor.   About 5 years ago, I located a gentleman in Florida that regulary packed these chutes and maintaned them.  I still have his name and phone number, but like I said, its been 5 yrs since I talked to him, so I don't know how good that will do.  You can   E-mail me for his ph # if you want to give it a try.  Harold

It is my understanding that most any "dive shops" can maintain this cylinder using the same equipment and fittings that they use to maintain and charge scuba diving equipment.

Les Hatfield used to be responsible for the parachutes at 2nd Chance and will pack these chutes. The last address that I had for him was:

Les Hatfield
1511 Taylor Ave., Coleman, FL 33521
Phone: 352-748-8005

Other parachute riggers can also accomplish this repack if there is a drop zone near you.

Good work jbmmax! Les Hatfield is the parachute rigger I talked to 5 yrs ago for tips on packing my Second Chantz. I knew he was in Florida, but didn't have his address. The phone number I have is a little different: 352-748-6629. We need to know this contact for the aircraft owners who have these parachute systems that need repacking and maintenance.  I should of remembered that dive shops are the ones to recharge the cylinder (I'm a scubadiver, duh...) because the air they pump is void of moisture and they can pump at a higher psi. Harold

Hi everyone... my name is John Dunham, the former owner of the Second Chantz Recovery System company, and the inventor of the Air Rocket System. I ran that company for 15 years, and sold it to the BRS company back in 1995. I can now re-enter the parachute business again because my non-compete agreements have expired.    

I read the inquiry about having our old systems serviced.  I thought I'd let any members know that I have been gearing up to take care of all our old customers needing service, and can take care of that now.  We will be gearing up to produce new A.I.R. powered and rocket systems soon also... with many from my former team joining the company.

The A.I.R. system service isn't something a scuba shop can, or normally  do... we use a bank of 6000 psi nitrogen gas cylinders, and top off the rockets with as much as 3500 psi.  New silicon high pressure O-ring seals are installed, and the rocket cylinder must have a hydro certification as part of the process, before it can be returned.  

If you would like to discuss having your system serviced, or upgraded, please don't hesitate to call me and discuss the procedure, and by all means... let anyone you know with a Second Chantz system that we're coming  back to give BRS a little competition again.  Literature and web site is being developed, so I do not have much to send out at this time.

My cell phone is:  775 315 0133.  Feel free to call me anytime.

Best Regards,
  
John Dunham,
The "New" Second Chantz, LLC
Carson City, Nevada

flightdesignwest@gmail.com
secondchantz@gmail.com

Woops...The correct e-mail in the last line of my post should have been

" secondchantz2@gmail.com"

Good to hear about the Second Chantz coming back!  I just had my bottle checked at a fire extinguisher company and they said it was ok.  The problem was the needle went past the max and they told me those type of gauges do that as they age. Is that right John? I repacked the chute since I'm a FAA Senior Parachute Rigger.  Harold

Good to hear from you John! I have a Second Chantz unit from a friend's MXII sprint which was accidentally deployed by a moron on the ground. Is there anything we can do to put this in use? Since he gave it me, can I use this in my minimax? Or something we can thread of. Thanks for the advice.
Phil

Thanks for the positive response guys!

Harold... that looks like a great installation in your Max... I can not venture a guess about the pressure guage reading off the scale... I haven't seen that effect yet.   Personally, I would worry about not knowing exactly how much pressure was in the system.  I am going to a better quality fluid filled gauge in the future.   I have  systems that have sat on the shelf for 15 years that have not lost pressure...   If you want to send the system in I can check it out, refill the rocket, replace the gauge, and repack the chute if needed, at a reasonable cost. Please contact me by e-mail or phone for a quick quote on that.  It won't cost too much to have that peace of mind about the exact pressure.  Was your chute packed into a long deployment sleave?  If you repacked it yourself, ( you are qualified, I'm sure) then you could just send me the container and rocket to save some shipping costs... but, my preference is to look at the system as a whole and make sure all is well.

Phil... we can put that parachute into a soft packed, Air rocket or Pyrotechnic system just like Harold's MiniMax installation, if the parachute has not been damaged...  I'll need you to send in the chute, and all the hardware components for a free inspection before I make a final commitment to upgrade it... sometimes ground shots can cause damage.  Contact me via my secondchantz2@gmail   address, or by phone for a quote... 775 315 0133.

Fly Safe !     John

can you do BRS chutes too?

Thanks for the compliment John.  I've had that chute 10 years now and watched the needle go from below the red line to past it over that period of time. The fire extinguisher shop did have the specifications for that air bottle and (without actually checking the pressure) believe that there was 3500 psi in the bottle and that particular gauge does behave the way it did. That doesn't give me the 100% warm and fuzzy feeling, but I'm 99% confident that it hasn't leaked. I may call you soon anyway.  After 2 years, I just found a hanger and am waiting for the owner to put a door on it.  Harold

Yes, we will repack BRS systems, or upgrade them to a new system, canister or soft pack.   The problem is shipping the BRS rocket after its 12 year life span is up.   They say it has to be disposed of and you need to buy a new rocket.   We are gearing up to reload those rockets.

John

Harold:  Sounds like you have it under control.  Let us know when you want to have it looked at someday.

By the way... for those who want to read a little bit about the Old Second Chantz, and our plans for the new operation, I've started a blog... it's a work in progress.

http://secondchantz.blogspot.com/